After months of pessimism concerning the fate of Tool‘s long-awaited follow-up to 2006's 10,000 Days, the veteran group’s webmaster has issued an update claiming work on the band’s new album is “progressing rather nicely” and hinting at possible involvement from King Crimson‘s Pat Mastelotto.

“Good friend and King Crimson percussionist Pat Mastelotto stopped by the Tool loft the other day to listen to the guys working on new material,” reads the update on the band’s official website, sure to be welcomed by fans. “Since the recent sound-proofing renovation, I’m told that the writing/arranging sessions have been progressing rather nicely (welcome news for those waiting for a new record).”

Meanwhile, guitarist Adam Jones recently took to Instagram to check in from an apparent writing session. While it’s not confirmed if the guitarist was working on songs for the new Tool album, the shot of a whiteboard bearing various odd time signatures does echo previous statements Jones made about the band’s new material. The guitarist appended the post with the promising hashtag #SmokeOnTheHorizon.

It was Jones who first revealed the reasons behind the delay of Tool’s fifth album. Speaking to Rolling Stone back in July, Jones explained that the band are currently in the midst of a convoluted series of lawsuits that have put both a financial and creative drain on the Los Angeles progressive rock group.